Yes. HUD says a lender may not approve or deny an FHA loan based solely on the TOTAL Scorecard result. The underwriter must verify the data and review the appraisal and the whole file. An Accept or Approve finding is a recommendation, not a final loan approval.
FHA loans are scored through TOTAL Scorecard, which returns Accept or Refer. HUD states that the lender may not accept or deny an FHA insured mortgage based solely on that assessment. All loans must be underwritten under Handbook 4000.1.
Even with an Accept, the lender must verify the information entered into the system, and it must make sure the data matches the file documentation. The underwriter still underwrites the appraisal under standard FHA requirements.
A loan can be stopped after an approval if documents do not match what was entered, if something in the file cannot be evaluated by the system, if new debt or an income change appears, or if the appraisal or property fails a requirement.
What an automated finding does and does not decide
| Finding | What it means |
|---|---|
| Accept | FHA may insure the loan, if the lender verifies the data and the file meets all FHA requirements |
| Refer | The loan must be fully underwritten by a direct endorsement underwriter |
| Either result | Never the final decision on its own. The underwriter decides |
What to do
- Keep documents consistent with what you told the lender.
- Report any job, income or debt change right away.
- Respond to underwriting conditions the same day.
- Ask which items remain open after the automated finding.
Sources
- HUD, TOTAL Scorecard. Mortgagee may not accept or deny based solely on TOTAL; Accept and Refer meanings. Source type: Official. Checked October 17, 2026.
- HUD Handbook 4000.1, II.A.4.a, Underwriting with an Automated Underwriting System. Lender must verify data entered; appraisals underwritten to FHA requirements; copy of the handbook section. Source type: Official. Checked October 17, 2026.